Are you somebody that sometimes has that sinking feeling when you go into a meeting and you find yourself immediately comparing yourself to other people? Thoughts come to mind like…is this the day I'm actually going to get found out for my limitations? Am I going to become exposed for the things that I don't know

We all have these feelings to a certain extent but for some, it can be an anxiety inducing, performance choking nightmare. You would be forgiven for thinking that these feelings are the domain for more junior, less experienced people – but that is not the case. In fact we would suggest that the more senior you are, the more prevalent feelings of imposter syndrome become. People have expectations from you. You, you put a lot of expectations on yourself and imposter feelings are amplified as a result of that.

If that all feels uncomfortably familiar, we have two bits of good news for you. One, is that it’s a completely natural feeling experienced by many; and two, in this episode we are going to give you some strategies to help you both understand and over come it.

In this episode we explore topics such as:

• What is imposter syndrome and why does it affect so many of us
• The symptoms of imposter syndrome and its impact on performance
• The different types of imposter phenomenon and how they manifest themselves
• Societal constructs and how they influence imposter feelings
• The role of social media in the rise of imposter syndrome
• The importance of “failing safely” particularly in front of children
• Practical strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome

“We're carrying these untruths, and then that untruth, before we know it, becomes, becomes a strong belief…And that belief will impact how you show up and your behaviour.”

“There are still some legacy constructs in, in the workplace that give rise to feelings of imposter syndrome.”

“Comparison is the thief of all joy.” Theodore Roosevelt

“Even Einstein was quoted as somebody who had imposter syndrome.”

“That willingness to demonstrate some vulnerability is very, very powerful. How freeing is it, to allow yourself to make a mistake, and to step into a conversation when you don't know all the answers.”

“You do not need to go through the rest of your life with this. And if you're not convinced yet, you don't have to have it at all. You can certainly hopefully hang on to the belief that it doesn't need to be as prevalent as it is.”

Useful links to books and resources on this topic or mentioned in this episode:

• Dr Nicole LePera - How to do the work
• Dr Jessamy Hibberd - The Imposter Cure
• Ryan Holiday - Courage is Calling
• Ethan Kross – Chatter – The Voice in our Head and How to Harness It
• Byron Katie – Loving what is